Contract workers across Britain were urged to continue taking wildcat strike action today as efforts to resolve the bitter row over jobs continued.

Talks aimed at resolving the dispute following the sacking of almost 650 workers at Lindsey oil refinery in North Lincolnshire were adjourned last night and will resume tomorrow.

Sources said some progress was made during the talks but "significant barriers" remain before the dispute could be resolved.

"Some progress has been made but there are a number of hurdles to overcome," said one source close to the talks.

Unions are demanding the reinstatement of the sacked workers and guarantees of no victimisation of activists involved in sympathy strikes, as well as jobs for 51 employees laid off at Lindsey earlier this month.

Text messages were sent to workers this morning urging them to continue taking industrial action, adding: "More is needed to finish this dispute to show we will not take this abuse any longer.

"All sites must show their support. This fight is far from over, brothers."

Up to 4,000 workers at power stations and oil and gas terminals across Britain took unofficial action yesterday.